Obituaries

Richard Reid "Rick" Zoss

Richard Reid "Rick" Zoss

Oct 9, 2021

Richard Reid "Rick" Zoss, 68, of Battle Creek, Michigan died peacefully at Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Rick was born June 5, 1953 in South Bend, Indiana the son of William Charles and Bette Jeanne (Droege) Zoss. He grew up in South Bend and graduated from Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana. Rick was most recently...

Betty Jean (Brown) Knight

Betty Jean (Brown) Knight

Oct 9, 2021

Betty Jean (Brown) Knight, 94, a lifelong Battle Creek resident died peacefully at Heritage Assisted Living. Betty was born April 26, 1927 in Battle Creek, Michigan the daughter of Clayman Curtis and Helen G. (Voyce) Brown. She attended Battle Creek Central High School. She spent most of her life as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother caring for her family....

Sharon Kay (Higdon) Gawlak

Sharon Kay (Higdon) Gawlak

Oct 9, 2021

Sharon Kay (Higdon) Gawlak, 79, of Battle Creek died at home on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Sharon Kay Higdon was born October 3, 1942 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Harold and Maude (Wright) Higdon. She was a 1960 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School. The Higdon Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Sharon Gawlak in honor of her parents,...

Charles A. Dinkins

Charles A. Dinkins

Oct 8, 2021

Charles A. "Charlie" Dinkins, 78, of Battle Creek, died October 8, 2021. Charlie was born April 27, 1943 in Dayton, TN to Robert and Rosabelle (Brady) Dinkins. Charlie studied turf management at Michigan State University and was the superintendent/course manager at Binder Park Golf Course for 36 years, retiring in 2000. Charlie married the former Susan Johnson on October 19,...

Frederick S. "Fred" Spencer

Frederick S. "Fred" Spencer

Oct 6, 2021

Frederick "Fred" S. Spencer, 97, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2021. He was born September 3, 1924 in Ottuma, Iowa to Glen and Nellie (Sallee) Spencer, and grew up in the Kalamazoo area, where his family moved when he was a young boy. Fred proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He...

Ethel Marie Snyder

Ethel Marie Snyder

Oct 6, 2021

Ethel Marie Snyder, age 91, of Augusta and formerly of Battle Creek passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday morning, October 6, 2021. She was born in Battle Creek on September 10, 1930, the loving daughter of Elbert and Elva (Machin) Godde.Ethel was united in marriage to Clinton D. "Clint" Snyder in Augusta, Michigan on September 25, 1948; he sadly preceded her...

Mary Louise "Mary Lou" (Kline) Deryder

Mary Louise "Mary Lou" (Kline) Deryder

Oct 4, 2021

Mary Louise "Mary Lou" (Kline) DeRyder of New Tripoli, PA and formerly of Richland, MI Mary Lou, age 93, died Monday morning, October 4, 2021 at her daughter's residence in New Tripoli with her loving family at her side. Mary Lou, the daughter of Harold and Lois (Houts) Kline, was born in Kalamazoo, MI on April 12, 1928 and was...

Ruth M. Berry

Ruth M. Berry

Oct 4, 2021

Ruth M. Berry, age 80, of Richland died Monday evening, October 4, 2021 at the Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo. She was born in Bloomington, Illinois on August 2, 1941, the daughter of Arthur and Lillian (Jett) Barling. She was a resident of this area since 1972 and worked for more than 30 years in the commercial construction industry,...

Melissa Jo Wright-Butler

Melissa Jo Wright-Butler

Oct 4, 2021

Melissa Jo Wright-Butler, 45, of Battle Creek, went home to be with her Savior on October 4, 2021, after a courageous battle with EHE cancer. She left this world with her earthly family at her side to join her heavenly family's outstretched arms. Melissa was born on April 9, 1976 in Battle Creek to Mark Louis Wright and Lori (Collins)...

Kay Frances (Etter) Meldrum

Kay Frances (Etter) Meldrum

Oct 3, 2021

Kay Frances (Etter) Meldrum, 81, of Battle Creek, died peacefully at The Villa at Winston Court on Sunday, October 3, 2021. Kay was born October 27, 1939 in Battle Creek and was raised by her adopted parent's Milton J. and Flora McDonald (Fettes) Etter. She grew up in Battle Creek and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. Kay was...

Thurmon Bowker

Thurmon Bowker

Oct 3, 2021

Thurmon Bowker, 83, of Richland, died October 3, 2021 at his residence. Thurm was born May 8, 1938 in Howlandsburg, MI to Loyal and Corabelle (Machin) Bowker. He graduated from Richland High School in 1957. Shortly after high school, Thurm married the former Nancy Ann Buddemeier in 1958. Thurm started Cavalier Electric in Richland in 1978 and ran it for...

Geraldine "Gerry" Adcock

Geraldine "Gerry" Adcock

Oct 2, 2021

Geraldine "Gerry" Adcock, age 103, of Bedford Township passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, October 2, 2021. She was born in Bedford Township, MI in 1918 to Casper and Alice Uldriks. Being one of 9 children, Gerry had to help take care of her younger siblings and work on the farm while attending school. She attended Kirby School, Level Park...

Rosemarie "Rommie" (Schnepf) Schuetz

Rosemarie "Rommie" (Schnepf) Schuetz

Oct 1, 2021

Rosemarie "Rommie" (Schnepf) Schuetz, 93, of Battle Creek died peacefully at Lakeview Assisted Living on Friday, October 1, 2021.She was born Rose Marie Schnepf on October 7, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Stemmer) Schnepf. Rosemarie grew up in Detroit and was a 1945 graduate of Edwin Denby High School, and later attended Wayne State University....

Joyce E. Kunz

Joyce E. Kunz

Oct 1, 2021

Joyce E. Kunz, age 68, of Battle Creek passed away peacefully at her home on Friday evening, October 1, 2021. She was born in Battle Creek on February 18, 1953, the daughter of Everett L. and Shirley A. (Pickett) Ehle and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with the Class of 1972. Joyce worked for Battle Creek Public and...

Linda Lee Standish

Linda Lee Standish

Sep 28, 2021

Linda Lee Standish, age 81, of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday morning, September 28, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. She was born in Allegan, Michigan on October 17, 1939, the loving daughter of Forest Charles and MettaBelle (Hillman) Peabody and graduated from Martin High School in Stuart, Florida. Linda worked for several years at the Ohio Casualty Insurance Company and...

James L. King

James L. King

Sep 28, 2021

James L. King, 85, of Bellevue, Michigan passed away peacefully on September 28, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family after a brief, courageous battle with cancer.

Jim was born April 1, 1936, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Daisy (Holmes) and Neville King. He was a 1954 graduate of Hastings High School. On April 20, 1957, he was united marriage...

Dennis Earl Clayman

Dennis Earl Clayman

Sep 26, 2021

Dennis Earl Clayman, age 61, of Battle Creek passed away Sunday morning, September 26, 2021 at Bronson Battle Creek. Dennis was born November 3, 1959 in Battle Creek to Arthur E. and LuAlice M. (Smith) Clayman. He retired from II Stanley in April 2018 after more than 30 years of service. Dennis married Debra D. "Deb" Hagan in Battle Creek...

Cindy Lee Mcdonald Evans

Cindy Lee Mcdonald Evans

Sep 25, 2021

Cindy Lee McDonald Evans, 63 of Battle Creek, Michigan died at home, with her family and friends at her side on Saturday, September 25, 2021.Cindy was born January 22, 1958 in Battle Creek, Michigan the daughter of Oliver Lowell and Margaret Marie (Wildie) McDonald. Other than a short stay in Alaska, Battle Creek has been Cindy's home. She was a...

Linda Marie (Hiatt) Estelle

Linda Marie (Hiatt) Estelle

Sep 24, 2021

Linda Marie (Hiatt) Estelle, 74 of Battle Creek died peacefully at Glen Arbor Hospice Residence on Friday, September 24, 2021.Linda was born April 26, 1947 in Battle Creek, Michigan the daughter of Lee O. and Ida M. (Ganson) Hiatt. She was a 1965 graduate of St. Philip Catholic Central, attended Kellogg Community College and Weaver Airline School in Kansas City,...

Naomi Ann Becerra-Norton

Naomi Ann Becerra-Norton

Sep 24, 2021

Naomi A. Becerra-Norton, age 51, of Battle Creek, MI passed away on Friday, September 24, 2021. Naomi was a beloved daughter to Claudia Lopez and Gonzalo "Bob" Becerra. She was an amazing mother to her sons, Mike and Nick Becerra. She was employed at Firekeepers until cancer treatments made her too weak to work. She had fond memories of her...